Epigean and hypogean drivers of Neotropical subterranean communities

Abstract

In addition to cave size and other subterranean habitat characteristics, cave entrances are important structurers of neotropical cave communities. However, little is known about the epigean ecosystems factors that might dictate the influence of entrances and the relationship among surface and cave communities, as entrance re-gions are ecotonal zones between the epigean and hypogean ecosystems. We aimed to assess the influence of epigean and hypogean factors as potential drivers of inver-tebrate species richness in Neotropical caves as well as the influence of the regional pool of invertebrate diversity on cave invertebrate diversity.